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<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="ds-1col node node-profile node-teaser view-mode-teaser clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-contributor-profile field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/who-we-are/sage-sauerbrey">Sage Sauerbrey</a>, Moonshine Ink Staff</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_a_affordable-housing3_0.jpg" title="TOOK THREE FOR SIX: Coburn Crossing broke ground this year and will bring the first few units of affordable housing in more than three years to the area: three units deed restricted for low income earners, and three for those who earn moderate income. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55282]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_a_affordable-housing3_0.jpg?itok=DqXg-Syk" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="TOOK THREE FOR SIX: Coburn Crossing broke ground this year and will bring the first few units of affordable housing in more than three years to the area: three units deed restricted for low income earners, and three for those who earn moderate income. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>TOOK THREE FOR SIX: Coburn Crossing broke ground this year and will bring the first few units of affordable housing in more than three years to the area: three units deed restricted for low income earners, and three for those who earn moderate income. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<h3>TRUCKEE PINES affordable housing development is one of three affordable housing sites on the east end of Truckee below Highway 80, and has over 250 names on a four to five-year waitlist. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_a_affordable%20housing2_web.jpg" title="SINE QUA NON: Jane Carson first moved into Riverview Homes affordable housing when it was built in 2000; she now manages the property and its eight- to nine-year wait list. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55282]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_a_affordable%20housing2_web.jpg?itok=FUPQOgBC" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="SINE QUA NON: Jane Carson first moved into Riverview Homes affordable housing when it was built in 2000; she now manages the property and its eight- to nine-year wait list. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>SINE QUA NON: Jane Carson first moved into Riverview Homes affordable housing when it was built in 2000; she now manages the property and its eight- to nine-year wait list. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<h3>Illustration by Lauren Shearer/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<h3>Illustration by Lauren Shearer/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<h3>Illustration by Lauren Shearer/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-subhead field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Affordable housing may not be sexy, but it’s necessary. Here’s how to make it happen.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-column field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/columns/housing-crisis" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Housing Crisis</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>the number of affordable housing units built in the Truckee/North Lake Tahoe region in the past five years can be counted on one finger: a single moderate-income unit in the Coyote Run II development. Granted, this is an area where all development moves at a lead-footed pace, but housing for low-income earners — which make up over one-third of area households according to the 2016 Regional Housing Study — progresses at barely a crawl.</p>
<p>Barriers to affordable housing projects are many. High construction costs, impact fees, not-in-my-backyard attitudes, density requirements, and the simple fact that affordable housing is not viewed a “sexy” investment, all hamper progress. A few local projects sit on the near horizon, however, and with their promise of added units, we looked at the current state of affordable housing, the obstacles to building it, and the creative methods being tested to make it happen.</p>
<p><strong>Affordable Housing Now</strong></p>
<p>As of 2017, there were 348 deed-restricted affordable units in the Town of Truckee, 137 of those built in the past 10 years. Jane Carson was one of the original residents of Truckee Riverview Homes, a 38-unit Mercy Housing project built near the Truckee River Regional Park in 2000, and the only affordable housing project comprised of stand-alone homes. After moving in as a single mom with two children, ages 9 and 10, she has lived there ever since. The kids are now near 30, and she has since become the manager of the apartments — responsible for maintenance, resident relations, and a wait list that many hopefuls have clung to for up to eight or nine years.</p>
<p>The Riverview homes are hot commodities in the affordable housing world — the single-family homes with attractive amenities are deed restricted to only those making 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Other developments are slightly more attainable, but still come with multi-year wait lists.</p>
<p>“Now we have about 35 families on the wait list,” Carson said. “We haven’t had anybody move out in five years. The people who live here are helping to run the town. They work in the schools; they work in the hospitals; they work in the excavating companies; they work in the grocery stores and in the retail stores.” The list goes on.</p>
<p>She said most of the people on her wait list are currently living at one of the apartment-style affordable housing complexes in Truckee such as Henness Flats or Frishman Hollow, but she also is constantly contacted by other people who have hit hard times and are desperately hoping to find a less expensive place to live. Some people camp with their kids while they look for an affordable place, she said. Others are forced to move down the hill. One recent inquiry came from a woman who had lived in her Tahoe home for 20 years, managing a store in Squaw Valley, before being kicked out by her landlord following a dramatic raise in rent this year. At 70 years old, the woman’s options look bleak. “We lose too many good people,” Carson said.</p>
<p>At Sierra Village Apartments, across Old Brockway Road from Riverview, community director Carolina Herrera said its wait list is about four to five years long and currently holds more than 250 names. At Truckee Pines Apartments, just south of Riverview Homes, the wait list is over two years long according to one employee.</p>
<p>With wait lists hundreds of names long, there’s no question a need for lower income housing is there. But after a long stint in the developmental doldrums following the recent recession, it looks like a new funding source is jumpstarting some projects that have lingered in the planning stages for more than a decade.</p>
<p><strong>Granted</strong></p>
<p>“In order to make housing truly affordable, it just takes government money,” said Luke Watkins, a principal of Neighborhood Partners a developer on two affordable housing projects in Truckee. Watkins has wrestled more than $26 million from California’s Cap and Trade program over the last two years for his projects in Nevada and Placer counties. The affordable housing component of the Coldstream Specific Plan near the east shore of Donner Lake was awarded $10 million in cap and trade funds for 48 units in 2016, and the Meadow View project at Schaffer’s Mill was awarded $16.25 million in July of this year for 56 very low, and low income deed restricted units from the same funding source.</p>
<p>In fact, out of the 189 affordable housing realistically planned for the near future (the word is out on the 138 units obliged for Gray’s Crossing), 175 are being primarily funded by Gov. Jerry Brown’s cap and trade program, first instituted in 2013. When one door shuts, another opens — in 2011 Brown killed the redevelopment agencies that many entities had been relying on for affordable housing projects. The Artist Lofts project in the Truckee Railyard was one such project, seemingly doomed by the dissolution of the redevelopment agencies; but after the initial blow, developer Rick Holliday applied for and received $12 million in the first round of funding from the newly created cap and trade funds in 2015.</p>
<p>“We’re fortunate that three projects in this Truckee area were funded, one in each round … certainly, there’s no other rural community in California that has had that level of success,” Watkins said.</p>
<p>With the victories the area has seen in acquiring cap and trade funds for affordable housing development, it may seem an easy well to tap. It’s not. The funds are some of the most competitive in the state, and in the most recent round, Truckee was one of 19 communities in the state to achieve it.</p>
<p>“How we were able to compete, was we were able to very quickly bring the partners to the table for that soft financing side, which is committing to some matching funds,” said Seana Doherty, project director for the Mountain Housing Council. When it comes to low income housing, there are no investors in the traditional development sense, Doherty said, but Truckee/Tahoe excels in scraping together the matching funds needed to attract state funds. The Artist Lofts for example, used matching funds totaling millions of dollars from the Town of Truckee, the Truckee Tahoe Airport District, the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, and the Martis Fund. The Meadow View project took matching transportation dollars from the Town of Truckee and Placer County — but also required that the county bolster its bus schedule, adding four new electric buses and $726,000 to improve its trail systems. (Because the cap and trade funds are operated by greenhouse gas credits sold at auction, the projects need to exhibit a reduction in fossil fuel use.)</p>
<p>Looking forward, both Watkins and Doherty feel there’s no reason Truckee’s success in leveraging these funds needs to stop here — far from the state looking to pull back from the area in order to spread the funds around, three successful projects would actually make the area more appealing for public investment.</p>
<p>“We have a really hard time competing with Sacramento and L.A., so we hope this puts us on the map for bringing really good projects to the table at the state level,” Doherty said.</p>
<p><strong>Local Level Funding</strong></p>
<p>Cap and trade funding may prove itself a vital funding source pending the success of the three projects coming down the pipeline. Not all are guaranteed, but the developers are optimistic. The Artist Lofts plans to break ground next year; Watkins said construction on Meadow View will commence in spring of 2020 — it’s running late due to a $4 million funding gap; and Coldstream is on a similar timeline to Meadow View. To even have a chance at the state funding for these projects though, it starts local, and it starts with money — the question is where government entities build those funds.</p>
<p>For the Town of Truckee, the soft financing for these projects comes from two places: the town’s general fund and a fund built from housing in-lieu fees. Developers are required to build 15 percent affordable housing, but they have the option to pay an in-lieu fee, instead of building the actual unit, that goes toward the town’s housing fund. While the town said it would prefer that builders build rather than pay the fee, the cost of the fee is set to cover the financing gap between what it costs to build a deed-restricted affordable unit and the low to moderate income range it will be rented for. Therefore, while the town has raised the maximum fee from $79,680 per unit to $87,718 over the last two years in order to incentivize building, the fee is still significantly lower than building the required affordable housing. “I would say most developers want to do the in-lieu fee,” town associate planner Yumie Dahn said.</p>
<p>Since the program was instituted in 2009, it has brought in just over $1.9 million in revenues — $1.65 million was used as soft financing for the Railyard project, $150,000 for the Mountain Housing Council partnership, and roughly $75,000 on studies and calculations — although Dahn said the town has discontinued using the fund for studies. For future projects, this currently leaves $162,617 in the housing fund, plus $500,000 from the general fund earmarked for housing.</p>
<p>Placer County also charges an in-lieu fee, but unlike the town, Placer County Deputy CEO-Tahoe Jennifer Merchant said the county does not currently have a structure in place, and the amount is usually determined on a case-by-case basis. This practice was recently criticized in the 2017/18 Placer County Grand Jury Report, which stated that the county should “Develop a consistent in-lieu fee that enables affordable housing.” Merchant said the county is currently looking to create a structure for fees, and launched a study with Hansford Economics to determine proper fee amounts.</p>
<p>The current Placer County in-lieu fee revenues are allocated to a housing trust fund that holds about $1.5 million, of which about 75 percent was generated from the Tahoe area. Merchant said this fund could be used for any project related to housing, including the $3.6 million, 11.4 acre Nahas property near Dollar Hill in Tahoe City. The county intends to purchase the Nahas lot for “achievable” housing, a term coined by the Mountain Housing Council to include income levels ranging from below 30 percent of AMI, to 195 percent of AMI. The achievable definition is meant to include the “missing middle” income range in the housing conversation that is routinely neglected when strategizing affordable development.</p>
<p>As far as the effectiveness of the fees in getting affordable housing built in Placer County and Truckee, both entities agree that most developers choose to pay the fee — it’s far cheaper than building. But, it adds a tool to the belt, they say. The single affordable unit built in the last five years as opposed to paying the in-lieu fee, compared to the many units on the horizon, suggest the fees are a poor short term solution but could pay dividends down the line.<br />
“[The in-lieu fee] is never going to build the same number of units that somebody would be required to [build] otherwise,” Merchant said. “But it gives us money in the bank to use to leverage other resources. It can be used for matching money; it can be used to buy land, to offset other fees.”</p>
<p><strong>Density</strong></p>
<p>After funding, every conversation regarding affordable housing eventually circles around density. The local government’s responsibility to fund and drive affordable housing projects means the projects will have more units per acre than is typical for other housing developments, Dahn says. As developers forego building 10 to 15 percent affordable units, which would integrate those units into existing projects and spread them around the area, in-lieu funds are instead directed toward full scale affordable housing projects.</p>
<p>“If you’re building a residential project and you can put in affordable housing then these affordable housing units are integrated into our community rather than just being subsets of our community,” Dahn said.</p>
<p>The Town of Truckee is currently looking at some rezoning to increase density, such as the upper McIver Dairy Farm, near the west end of Truckee, to 18 units per acre, Dahn said. The highest density in Truckee is currently 24 units per acre in downtown. In Tahoe City, the county is looking at rezoning the Nahas property. According to Merchant, the property is zoned for 15 units per acre, but with a new designation for affordable housing, its zoning can be boosted by 25 percent, allowing for about 200 units on the site.</p>
<p>“Density is the best way to get walkability, and the best way to make something financially feasible,” Merchant said. “I don’t know that the community will be willing to except that many units, but that’s something we will be getting feedback on.”</p>
<p>What Merchant calls the “spectre of NIMBYism” or not-in-my-backyard-ism, is one of the last hurdles for many affordable housing projects. Doherty at the Mountain Housing Council said that although people are all too aware of the need for these projects, affordable housing still carries a stigma that needs to be overcome.</p>
<p>“There is time to get involved and help shape [housing] projects, but we can’t do all this work to get housing and then have them die because the public shuts them down,” Doherty said. “We have to start thinking about higher density and walkable communities and that kind of living that is new to our area but much needed.”</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:17:13 +0000mayumi55282 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comFour Basin Homes To Help Housing Deficitshttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/four-basin-homes-help-housing-deficits
Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:19:39 +0000mayumi55283 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comIn Hot Pursuit of Living Life Fullyhttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/hot-pursuit-living-life-fully
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="ds-1col node node-profile node-teaser view-mode-teaser clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-contributor-profile field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/who-we-are/mayumi-elegado">Mayumi Elegado</a>, Moonshine Ink Staff</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_pubnote_1808_Amory_web_0.jpg" title="LIFE ON THE MOVE: Our sweatshirts are long-lasting, like knowledge. Photo by Sage Sauerbrey/Moonshine Ink" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55295]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_pubnote_1808_Amory_web_0.jpg?itok=qaL1iJYq" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="LIFE ON THE MOVE: Our sweatshirts are long-lasting, like knowledge. Photo by Sage Sauerbrey/Moonshine Ink" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>LIFE ON THE MOVE: Our sweatshirts are long-lasting, like knowledge. Photo by Sage Sauerbrey/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-column field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/52" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Publisher&#039;s Note</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Upon hearing I am Moonshine’s publisher, my friend’s fiancé said something like, “Wow, that’d be like being in college forever, with those never-ending deadlines.”</p>
<p>When my friend relayed this to me, I thought, “Thanks fella for reminding me of a big part of my life that is of dubious value.” Living with endless deadlines is tough — your vacation schedule is limited, you have to stay on your game even when you don’t want to, and your adrenals are given a regular robust workout that your acupuncturist warns isn’t great for you.</p>
<p>Yet my friend’s fiancé informed me a few days later that he meant it as a compliment because he misses being in college. The pursuit of knowledge and deadlines drive him, he said. If he isn’t learning, he feels as if he’s missing something.</p>
<p>Besides garnering my approval of their upcoming marriage, he reminded me of this essential and valuable part of living fully — learning, which is a lifelong pursuit that comes in countless forms. It’s higher education that gives one a leg-up in society, as we see in the inspiring stories of several <a href="http://moonshineink.com/news/latino-students-find-success-hometown-college" target="_blank">Sierra College students</a>. It’s in the pursuit to communicate effectively, <a href="http://moonshineink.com/mountain-life/parents-how-stop-sounding-your-own-parents-your-kids" target="_blank">especially with our children</a>. For the endemic Tahoe/Truckee athletes, it’s studying how to make outdoor shred time more <a href="http://moonshineink.com/sports/be-balanced-get-results" target="_blank">sustainable for our bodies</a>.</p>
<p>Yet as Gen Xers remember from GI Joe commercials of the late ‘80s, “Knowing is half the battle.” Implementation is the other side of the coin. To keep our roads safe for drivers and cyclists, we must learn the rules first, then also make <a href="http://moonshineink.com/sports/your-left" target="_blank">changes to our behavior</a>. In the face of an urgent housing crisis, our community must study the issue then dig far and wide for solutions in order to get affordable housing on the ground, <a href="http://moonshineink.com/news/wait-list" target="_blank">see here</a> and <a href="http://moonshineink.com/news/innovative-solutions-complex-housing-problems" target="_blank">here</a>. We’ve got to educate ourselves about <a href="http://moonshineink.com/news/tackling-housing-crisis-propositions-who%E2%80%99s-filed-local-seats" target="_blank">what’s on the ballot</a>, talk with friends, family, colleagues, and then take action by voting.</p>
<p>The deadlines we have at the Ink make us tear our hair out at times, but they keep us moving. We are relentless in our pursuit of truth; at times we have to correct ourselves, <a href="http://moonshineink.com/vintage-16-nip-9" target="_blank">p. 11</a>. It’s all part of the process.</p>
<p>If you value learning and knowledge, especially about our mountain community hamlet, read the paper in your hands. Then we’ve got a way you can take action — support our work and buy one of our sweet sweatshirts just off the silkscreen press. Your active body and us harried journalists will thank you. </p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:16:58 +0000mayumi55295 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comBUSINESS BRIEFS | August 9 - September 12, 2018http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/business-briefs-august-9-september-12-2018
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div>
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<h3>IRON ROAD: A via ferrata, an Italian term meaning iron road, is a protected climbing route with permanent steel anchors and cables that allow participants to be safely connected to the rock 100 percent of the time. Photo courtesy Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows</h3> </div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_busi_briefs_coworking.jpg" title="COWORKING: The 2017 State of Telecommuting Report, produced by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics, recently reported that the number of people telecommuting increased 115 percent in the last 10 years. Courtesy photo" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55262]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_busi_briefs_coworking.jpg?itok=ybXnm9wc" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="COWORKING: The 2017 State of Telecommuting Report, produced by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics, recently reported that the number of people telecommuting increased 115 percent in the last 10 years. Courtesy photo" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>COWORKING: The 2017 State of Telecommuting Report, produced by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics, recently reported that the number of people telecommuting increased 115 percent in the last 10 years. Courtesy photo</h3> </div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_busi_briefs_laketahoenews1.jpg" title="NINE YEARS: Two archived landing pages show the evolution of Lake Tahoe News since it launched in 2009. Screenshot courtesy Wayback Machine" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55262]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_busi_briefs_laketahoenews1.jpg?itok=vomFv9EK" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="NINE YEARS: Two archived landing pages show the evolution of Lake Tahoe News since it launched in 2009. Screenshot courtesy Wayback Machine" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>NINE YEARS: Two archived landing pages show the evolution of Lake Tahoe News since it launched in 2009. Screenshot courtesy Wayback Machine</h3> </div>
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<h3>NINE YEARS: Two archived landing pages show the evolution of Lake Tahoe News since it launched in 2009. Screenshot courtesy Wayback Machine</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>Cal Neva Cabin Removal &amp; Site Revitalization Underway</strong></p>
<p>CRYSTAL BAY</p>
<p>The Cal Neva site revitalization team has been removing debris and waste in the buildings and around the site. In late July, the team began removing the blighted, fire-prone cabins located east of the lodge on the Nevada side of the property with the anticipation that this work will be completed by fall. For both neighbors and the surrounding community, a new informational website has been launched: thecalneva.com. You can sign up to receive updates and email questions about the cabin removal and site revitalization. The project team will be able to address only questions about the current effort at this time, as the owner, architects, and planners are still working on overall plans for the project. Info: <a href="http://thecalneva.com" target="_blank">thecalneva.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Lake Tahoe News Shuts Down Site</strong></p>
<p>LAKE TAHOE</p>
<p>After nine years, Kathryn Reed shut down the Lake Tahoe News website on July 31. The site was both a source of original reporting as well as an aggregator of news from around the region. Although no new content will appear on the site, archives of past stories will be available for 24-hour access for $7.99. “I believe all credible news sources become an area’s history,” Reed said in a letter posted on the site’s landing page. “To pull the plug on Lake Tahoe News felt wrong on so many levels, so that’s why it will remain as an archive.”</p>
<hr /><p><strong>Alpenglow Expeditions to Open Via Ferrata at Squaw Valley </strong></p>
<p>OLYMPIC VALLEY</p>
<p>Alpenglow Expeditions will soon begin construction of two via ferrata climbing routes up Tram Face at Squaw Valley Resort. The routes will allow even those with no climbing experience the opportunity to safely scale the iconic rock face, exploring high alpine terrain while taking in the beautiful vistas. A via ferrata, an Italian term meaning iron road, is a protected climbing route with permanent steel anchors and cables that allow participants to be safely connected to the rock 100 percent of the time. Beginning this fall, Alpenglow Expeditions plans to offer full-day and half-day guided Tahoe Via Ferrata tours. No climbing experience is necessary, but basic hiking fitness is recommended. The first guided ascents are expected to commence in September. Info: <a href="http://tahoevia.com" target="_blank">tahoevia.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Tahoe Flow Arts Partners With Stay Gold Fitness &amp; Athletics, Expands to Truckee</strong></p>
<p>TAHOE VISTA/TRUCKEE</p>
<p>Kelly Smiley, owner and operator of Tahoe Flow Arts in Tahoe Vista, and Christine Bettera, owner and operator of Stay Gold Fitness &amp; Athletics in Kings Beach, recently introduced a new collaborative space in Tahoe Vista. Stay Gold will move into the same building that houses Tahoe Flow Arts, creating 1,700 square feet of additional space in the Perennial Nursery plaza. Tahoe Flow Arts is also expanding to Truckee in a shared space with Truckee Dance Factory at the Pioneer Center starting in September. Info: <a href="http://tahoeflowartsstudio.com" target="_blank">tahoeflowartsstudio.com</a>, <a href="http://staygoldfitness.com" target="_blank">staygoldfitness.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Tahoe Mountain Realty to Open Free Co-working Space at Old Greenwood</strong></p>
<p>TRUCKEE</p>
<p>Tahoe Mountain Realty, in partnership with Tahoe Mountain Club, in July opened the Tahoe Mountain Hub at Old Greenwood, a new shared public workspace. The space will be open daily at no charge to the public, keeping the same hours as the Old Greenwood golf course, approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. With seating for up to 30 people, Tahoe Mountain Hub will offer simple conveniences including table or desk space and free WiFi. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at The Terrace Grill during the summer months. Those interested in working from this new co-working space can do so at their leisure, with no reservation required. Access and workspace is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Info: <a href="http://tmrrealestate.com" target="_blank">tmrrealestate.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Sierra Small Business Development Center Releases Economic Report</strong></p>
<p>TRUCKEE</p>
<p>The Sierra Small Business Development Center in July announced its mid-year economic impact report from the first half of 2018. So far this year, the Sierra SBDC has served 250 clients with 900 hours of no-cost, confidential business consulting. These clients have leveraged more than $2 million in capital funding this year, created and retained 97 jobs, and launched 15 new businesses. The center also announced the return of the Tahoe Pitch Camp &amp; Showcase in partnership with Tahoe Silicon Mountain, an intensive series of free workshops designed to hone an entrepreneur’s pitch to investors. The series culminates in a pitch competition on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. in Truckee. Info: <a href="http://sierrasbdc.com" target="_blank">sierrasbdc.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>League to Save Lake Tahoe Brings Chariot Microtransit Service to South Tahoe</strong></p>
<p>SOUTH LAKE TAHOE</p>
<p>The League to Save Lake Tahoe teamed up with Chariot to launch a microtransit service in July in South Tahoe’s most traffic-congested tourist area in a pilot program to test lake-friendly transportation solutions. In addition to central destinations in the busiest tourist hubs, stops on the route were chosen to provide linkages to local bike trails and public transit routes. South Tahoe’s bike share service — which the League partnered with LimeBike to launch in 2017 — will enable Chariot riders to extend their trips onto the system’s dockless rental bicycles and electric scooters. Info: <a href="http://chariot.com" target="_blank">chariot.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>New Luxury Real Estate Development Launches at Old Greenwood</strong></p>
<p>TRUCKEE</p>
<p>A new real estate development called the Signature Home Collection broke ground this June in Old Greenwood. The project will include eight single-family homes celebrating the mountain lifestyle; an additional eight homes are scheduled for phase two of the collection. The multi-year real estate project will feature property prices starting at $1.565 million.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:33:31 +0000lshearer55262 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comNEWS BRIEFS | August 9 - September 12, 2018http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/news-briefs-august-9-september-12-2018
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div>
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<h3>REVITALIZED: In addition to cohousing neighborhood, the Truckee Cohousing group’s vision includes creating a public plaza, park, and trail, and replacing the non-conforming industrial uses with housing above ground-floor commercial space. Here, the future residents pose on site. Courtesy photo</h3> </div>
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<h3>(right) BEETLEKILLER: The Great Basin bristlecone pine has the ability to ward off mountain pine beetles. Nearly all other pine species in western North America are susceptible to the insects. Photo courtesy USFS</h3> </div>
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<h3>NEW HOUSING: The 11.4-acre parcel is located at the intersection of Fabian Way and Highway 28, two miles from Tahoe City’s downtown and 6 miles from Kings Beach. With its proximity to public transit, trailheads, and schools, proponents call it an ideal location for achievable local housing. Courtesy image</h3> </div>
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<li class="slide-1" style="width: 121px;"><a href="#slide-1-field_image_gallery-55264"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleryformatter_thumb/public/news_briefs_bristlecone.jpg?itok=JJ943Mp0" width="121" height="75" alt="" title="(right) BEETLEKILLER: The Great Basin bristlecone pine has the ability to ward off mountain pine beetles. Nearly all other pine species in western North America are susceptible to the insects. Photo courtesy USFS" /></a></li>
<li class="slide-2" style="width: 121px;"><a href="#slide-2-field_image_gallery-55264"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleryformatter_thumb/public/news_briefs_nahas.jpg?itok=2vwXL0yt" width="121" height="75" alt="" title="NEW HOUSING: The 11.4-acre parcel is located at the intersection of Fabian Way and Highway 28, two miles from Tahoe City’s downtown and 6 miles from Kings Beach. With its proximity to public transit, trailheads, and schools, proponents call it an ideal location for achievable local housing. Courtesy image" /></a></li>
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<div class="field field-name-field-sidebartext field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <h2>Moving In, Moving Up, Moving On</h2>
<p><strong>NTPUD Announces Brad Johnson, P.E. as General Manager/CEO</strong></p>
<p>NORTH LAKE TAHOE</p>
<p>Brad Johnson, P.E., was announced as the next general manager/CEO of the North Tahoe Public Utility District at the July 17 board of directors meeting. Since 2007, Johnson has served as the director of engineering and asset management for the Incline Village General Improvement District. This announcement preceded the news that Duane Whitelaw, who retired after four years as NTPUD general manager on June 15 and 42 years of public service, passed away on July 23 after battling cancer.</p>
<hr /><p><strong>Steve Teshara elected CALCOG Board President</strong></p>
<p>CALIFORNIA</p>
<p>Steve Teshara will serve as the president of the California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG) for the upcoming year, representing the Tahoe Transportation District. CALCOG’s membership includes 47 regional governments that are involved in the planning, funding, and development of the state’s transportation infrastructure. They range from large entities like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the San Francisco Bay Area and Metro in Los Angeles, to rural county-based agencies like the El Dorado County Transportation Commission and the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency.</p>
<hr /><hr /><h2>The New Face of the Placer County TOT Budgets</h2>
<p><strong>NLTRA Funding and Scope of Work Approved</strong></p>
<p>PLACER COUNTY</p>
<p>On June 26, an updated contract, budget, and scope of work for marketing services provided by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association was approved by the Placer County Board of Supervisors. According to Liz Bowling, NLTRA director of communications and membership, over the past year significant changes have been made to rectify the relationship between Placer County and the Chamber/Resort Association/CVB. The new arrangement is the result of work by new NLRTA CEO Cindy Gustafson, Bowling said. Gustafson has expanded the NLTRA board of directors to better represent the full scope of Eastern Placer County, ensuring a diverse business presence. She has made staffing changes within the NLTRA for better efficiency, strengthening the organization and improving its accountability to Placer County. The stronger partnership is also a result of successful collaboration between Gustafson, the NLTRA board, and Erin Casey, principal management analyst for Placer County, Bowling said.</p>
<hr /><p><strong>First CAP Committee Projects Funding Approved</strong></p>
<p>PLACER COUNTY</p>
<p>The first round of funding for the recently formed Capital Projects Committee was approved on July 24 by the Placer County Board of Supervisors in the amount of $4,997,179 to be used for various projects recommended by the committee. The committee was presented with 29 applications for funding to the tune of over $36 million in total requests. The committee ranked these projects by priority to be presented to the board of supervisors. The largest chunk of approved funding, over $3.5 million, is for sections of the Resort Triangle Trail System, a planned multijurisdictional loop connecting Truckee/North Lake Tahoe from Kings Beach to Tahoe City to Truckee.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>Cohousing Project Closes Land Deal </strong></p>
<p>TRUCKEE</p>
<p>On July 15, a group of Truckee residents celebrated the purchase of 7.9 acres of industrial redevelopment property on West River Street and the future site of their cohousing neighborhood, a community designed and financed by local residents. The Truckee Cohousing group, comprising approximately 20 member families, has been meeting regularly since mid-2017 and recently formed as Truckee River Commons, LLC. Prior to closing on the property, the cohousing group was engaged in impromptu work parties to clean up the site. The group has hauled off three large dumpsters and about 100 yards of junk and trash. Info: <a href="http://truckeecohousing.com" target="_blank">truckeecohousing.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Placer County Hears Public Comment on Squaw Transportation District Formation</strong></p>
<p>OLYMPIC VALLEY/ALPINE MEADOWS</p>
<p>On July 24, Placer County Board of Supervisors held a public meeting on the formation of a transportation Tourism Based Improvement District (TBID) for Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows. The district would be a micro mass transit district, an evolution of the traditional TBID, but specifically based to provide transportation services. The proposed district will consist of a 1 percent lodging tax increase, as well as 1 percent of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings’ lift ticket revenues. It would have a five year life, and would implement a fixed-route micro mass transit shuttle service that would deviate from the route at the request of the rider.</p>
<hr /><p><strong>Tahoe Fund Announces 2018 Signature Projects</strong></p>
<p>LAKE TAHOE</p>
<p>The Tahoe Fund has three new projects. The fund is currently seeking donations to the Desolation project that will help fund the Tahoe Rim Trail Association to rehabilitate a section of the trail, improve safety for trail users, and reduce the flow of sediment into alpine lakes and streams. Every dollar given to the project will be matched up to $40,000 through the end of 2018. The Tahoe Fund has a goal of raising $15,000 to benefit the Kings Beach Trail, which aims to transform a current off-highway vehicle trail with major erosion issues into a multi-feature trail for use by mountain bikes, motorbikes, hikers, and equestrians. The third project has a goal of raising $15,000 for the Sugar Pine Foundation in an effort to plant 100,000 seedlings around the Basin. Volunteer plantings are scheduled at the Emerald Fire and Angora Fire scars as well as at Spooner Summit, Sand Harbor, and Tahoe Vista, and along the new bike path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor. The Tahoe Fund also launched its new Take Care Tahoe website on July 2. Info: <a href="http://tahoefund.org" target="_blank">tahoefund.org</a>, <a href="http://takecaretahoe.org" target="_blank">takecaretahoe.org</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Celebrate Town of Truckee’s 25th Anniversary</strong></p>
<p>TRUCKEE</p>
<p>On Sept. 8, Truckee community members are invited to a town picnic at the Donner Lake West End Beach to honor the 25th anniversary of the Town of Truckee’s incorporation and 155 years since its establishment. All residents are welcome to celebrate the Truckee Way with music by The Berm Brothers and Richard Blair. The town urges residents to ride their bikes and use the free bike valet, or use free bus transportation from Truckee neighborhoods to West End Beach, where a new community photo will be taken. Info: <a href="http://25thanniversarytruckee.eventbrite.com" target="_blank">25thanniversarytruckee.eventbrite.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Placer County Purchases Dollar Hill Property for Achievable Housing</strong></p>
<p>PLACER COUNTY</p>
<p>The Placer County Board of Supervisors voted on July 24 to initiate the $3.6 million purchase of an 11.4-acre parcel in the Dollar Hill area of Tahoe City, referred to as the Nahas property, to pursue a housing project. The unanimous vote of approval sets in motion a project that could deliver much needed affordable housing to a community that is in the grips of a severe housing crisis. On Aug. 1, Placer County and the Mountain Housing Council’s community meeting in Tahoe City gathered input on all elements of the project, and will include that feedback in its request for proposals from developers. Info: <a href="http://mountainhousingcouncil.org" target="_blank">mountainhousingcouncil.org</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>West Nile Virus Confirmed in South Meadows Area </strong></p>
<p>RENO</p>
<p>The Washoe County Health District confirms that mosquito samples from the Damonte Ranch and Hidden Valley areas have tested positive for West Nile Virus — the first positive tests in Washoe County in 2018. When the virus identification is confirmed, the health district increases mosquito surveillance and conducts controlled early-morning insecticide fogging in the area. Take steps to avoid exposure to mosquitoes this summer: Wear proper clothing, use repellent, and minimize standing water near your home.</p>
<hr /><p><strong>Ozone Air Pollution at Worst Level in 10 Years Due to Wildfires</strong></p>
<p>WASHOE COUNTY</p>
<p>Several wildfires in Nevada and California have caused air quality to deteriorate. Health officials in Washoe County Health District’s Air Quality Management have reported that the county experienced the highest level of ozone air pollution since 2008. Recently, an Air Quality Index for ozone was 140, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The highest ever for ozone in Washoe County was an Air Quality Index of 164 in 1984. Ozone and fine particulates in the air can harm health. Info: <a href="http://ourcleanair.com" target="_blank">ourcleanair.com</a></p>
<hr /><p><strong>Great Basin Bristlecone Pines Found to Repel Pine Beetles</strong></p>
<p>CALIFORNIA</p>
<p>Great Basin bristlecone pine is the longest-lived, non-clonal species in the world, capable of living for more than 5,000 years. A new study found that these trees not only repel mountain pine beetles, but also don’t support the survival of the beetle’s offspring. “This has implications for how we can help protect other trees,” said Barbara Bentz, co-author of the study and a research entomologist with the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. “These unique defenses could be used to develop strategies to protect other high value trees from mountain pine beetle attacks.”</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:46:55 +0000lshearer55264 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comThe Old Timers’ Picnichttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/old-timers%E2%80%99-picnic
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="ds-1col node node-profile node-teaser view-mode-teaser clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-contributor-profile field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/who-we-are/chelsea-walterscheid">Chelsea Walterscheid</a>, </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_inthepast_oldtiemrs2_0.jpg" title="DEEP ROOTS: Collier’s roots run deep in Truckee’s history. Her grandmother on her dad’s side, May Shimamoto Bretthauer (middle front in photo), used to own Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee and gave birth to Kim’s father, Ken Bretthauer, at home on West River Street. Photo courtesy Chelsea Walterscheid " class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55265]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_inthepast_oldtiemrs2_0.jpg?itok=j1in5qv6" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="DEEP ROOTS: Collier’s roots run deep in Truckee’s history. Her grandmother on her dad’s side, May Shimamoto Bretthauer (middle front in photo), used to own Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee and gave birth to Kim’s father, Ken Bretthauer, at home on West River Street. Photo courtesy Chelsea Walterscheid " /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>DEEP ROOTS: Collier’s roots run deep in Truckee’s history. Her grandmother on her dad’s side, May Shimamoto Bretthauer (middle front in photo), used to own Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee and gave birth to Kim’s father, Ken Bretthauer, at home on West River Street. Photo courtesy Chelsea Walterscheid </h3> </div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_inthepast_oldtimers1.jpg" title="DEEP ROOTS: Collier’s roots run deep in Truckee’s history. Her grandmother on her dad’s side, May Shimamoto Bretthauer (middle front in photo), used to own Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee and gave birth to Kim’s father, Ken Bretthauer, at home on West River Street. Photo courtesy Chelsea Walterscheid " class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55265]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_inthepast_oldtimers1.jpg?itok=6bISxuzr" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="DEEP ROOTS: Collier’s roots run deep in Truckee’s history. Her grandmother on her dad’s side, May Shimamoto Bretthauer (middle front in photo), used to own Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee and gave birth to Kim’s father, Ken Bretthauer, at home on West River Street. Photo courtesy Chelsea Walterscheid " /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>DEEP ROOTS: Collier’s roots run deep in Truckee’s history. Her grandmother on her dad’s side, May Shimamoto Bretthauer (middle front in photo), used to own Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee and gave birth to Kim’s father, Ken Bretthauer, at home on West River Street. Photo courtesy Chelsea Walterscheid </h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-subhead field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The Truckee reunion where I learned I have a sister from Oklahoma</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-column field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/columns/past" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">In the Past</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The 38th annual Old Timers’ Picnic started as a day to reunite people who grew up together in Truckee. The first picnic was Aug. 23, 1981, and on every third Saturday in July, the Truckee-Donner Historical Society hosts the event at the Truckee River Regional Park. This year, there was a very special family reunion.</p>
<p>As an attendee, and later an organizer of the event, my first few picnics were exciting as some of Truckee’s oldest old timers were still attending. I have heard hilarious stories and witnessed arguments break out over how people remember the same events differently. One man told me about a handful of bad decisions he made as a juvenile, and how Constable Dolley — a giant at 6 feet 8 inches tall — threw him in the old jail to teach him a lesson.</p>
<p>This year, a woman who attended the Old Timers’ Picnic met her new family for the first time. The woman, who was adopted as a newborn and raised in Oklahoma, recently found her biological parents through a simple DNA test. Having assumed they were also from Oklahoma, she was surprised to find out that they were both from Truckee, a town she had never heard of before. The woman is my new found half-sister, Kim Collier. We have the same mother.</p>
<p>Kim found out rather quickly that she comes from a line of Truckee old-timers. Our maternal grandparents, Doug and Phyllis Heise, moved to Truckee in 1968. Doug’s first job was paving with Bob Sutton before he later worked for CalTrans. He also started a small industrial supply business which he sold to Joe and Priscilla Cardona, who grew it into Truckee River Supply. Phyllis worked for the Truckee Tahoe Medical Group. Together, they raised the last five of their seven children in the same house I grew up in.</p>
<p>Kim’s biological dad is Ken Bretthauer. Digging into Ken’s family history, I realized just how deep my new sister’s bloodline runs in Truckee. I traced one of her great uncles to arriving in Truckee in 1901. Ken was delivered by Dr. Bernard in his home on West River Street, before Tahoe Forest Hospital was built. Ken’s parents were Ralph and May Bretthauer. May owned Tony’s Cocktail Lounge in downtown Truckee, which was previously owned by Tony and Essie Polyanich, Ken’s aunt and uncle. Tony and Essie also owned the California Cafe, next door to the bar. Ken and his wife, Joanie, who was also raised in Truckee, have managed the Webber Lake campground since 2000.</p>
<p>Before long, word got out about the guest who only just discovered what it is like to bask in a warm Truckee welcome. Peggy and Ken’s classmates and life-long friends were surprised to find out about this long-kept secret. Most surprised of all were Ken and Peggy themselves. Ken said he never knew about the baby born in Oklahoma, and Peggy said she had assumed the father to be someone else. With a sample of her DNA and an uncertain outcome, Kim opened the door to the past.</p>
<p>When I asked Kim how she felt about this big life event, she told me she was nervous about meeting so many new people, but that everyone made her feel comfortable and welcome. She said she has always called Oklahoma home, but now can also include Truckee and her new family. Kim had no idea what she was getting herself into when she traveled to this little town on a California mountain top, but she left with a Truckee-size helping of love, acceptance, pride, and joy from a community that has always celebrated their own.<br />
</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:53:24 +0000lshearer55265 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comLatino Students Find Success at Hometown Collegehttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/latino-students-find-success-hometown-college
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="ds-1col node node-profile node-teaser view-mode-teaser clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-contributor-profile field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/who-we-are/david-bunker">David Bunker</a>, Moonshine Ink</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_b_latino_0.jpg" title="IMPACTFUL: Coco Zarate knew he wanted to pursue psychology when he realized “that [psychology] is the foundation for every human being.” Now the Sierra College graduate works with children who survived domestic abuse. “If I can help the children at an early age, I can impact the future of this country,” Zarate said. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55267]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_b_latino_0.jpg?itok=toDVH6-g" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="IMPACTFUL: Coco Zarate knew he wanted to pursue psychology when he realized “that [psychology] is the foundation for every human being.” Now the Sierra College graduate works with children who survived domestic abuse. “If I can help the children at an early age, I can impact the future of this country,” Zarate said. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>IMPACTFUL: Coco Zarate knew he wanted to pursue psychology when he realized “that [psychology] is the foundation for every human being.” Now the Sierra College graduate works with children who survived domestic abuse. “If I can help the children at an early age, I can impact the future of this country,” Zarate said. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>When a hereditary illness took away Coco Zarate’s eyesight while attending Sierra College, it could have also dashed his dreams of finishing college. But Zarate vividly recalls Sierra College librarian Maria Von Der Ahe reading assignments and textbooks to him, allowing him to become the first in his family to graduate college despite his health challenges.</p>
<p>Today, Zarate has recovered his eyesight, graduated from Chico State University, and works as an advocate for children who have experienced domestic violence at the Tahoe SAFE Alliance in Truckee. He is also one of a growing number of Truckee/Tahoe Latino students who have started their college careers at Sierra College and gone on to educational success, often becoming the first members of their families to hold college diplomas. (See Feel Good story, p. 46, to read about Sierra Nevada College and Lake Tahoe Community College’s new partnership to make four-year degrees more accessible.)</p>
<p>Latino student enrollment at Sierra College has more than doubled in the last decade, from 8.5 percent in 2008 to 28.5 percent in 2018, said Kim Bateman, dean of the Truckee campus of Sierra College. And those students typically go on to finish four-year degrees, she adds. Last year, 37 of the 38 Sierra College graduates transferred to four-year colleges.</p>
<p>What is happening at Sierra College is part of a larger national trend. Latino students, many of them first-generation immigrants, are attending college like never before, determined to use education as a stepping stone to better careers. A Pew Research Center study published in 2013 found than seven out of every 10 Latino high school graduates attended college — a rate higher than white high school graduates. The study credited “the importance that Latino families place on a college education” for the increased college participation rate.</p>
<p>But within that national trend, Sierra College’s Truckee-Tahoe campus holds a special place, say the Latino students who have started their college careers or earned associates degrees at the school.</p>
<p>“It is not like a regular college that just treats you like an ID number,” said Zarate. “Sierra College gives you one-on-one interaction with teachers and real relationships.”</p>
<p>Zarate and others say the college experience was unfamiliar to them, but the encouragement and support from Sierra College staff and family members made the challenge less daunting.</p>
<p>“College was a brand new thing for my family,” said Zarate. “My parents only went through elementary school … They didn’t want to see me going through the same struggles that they went through.”</p>
<p>José Yanez said the affordability and flexibility he found at the school was critical for him in gaining his accounting degree through after-work night classes — achieving a dream he has had since arriving in the U.S. from Michoacan, Mexico at 12 years old without his immediate family.</p>
<p>Yanez said that without a college in his hometown, higher education might not have been a viable option. “With a full-time job and having to drive an hour or an hour and a half away, it would have been hard to continue with my education,” Yanez said.</p>
<p>Bateman credits a few efforts for the local increase in Latino enrollment. The connection between the Truckee and North Tahoe high schools has become tighter. Students can earn college and high school credits simultaneously through the college’s academic enrichment program. The college has also focused on removing barriers to college education. It offers tuition-free college for full-time students for a full academic year, and many online course materials eliminate the need to buy textbooks.</p>
<p>Those offerings helped Zuleima Ramirez reimagine her educational opportunities and become the first person in her family in the last three generations to graduate from college.</p>
<p>“It was a situation where we thought college was not affordable,” said Ramirez of her perception of higher education before learning about Sierra College’s programs.</p>
<p>After enrolling, Ramirez found the flexibility to earn her criminal justice degree (she also holds a nursing degree and EMT certification). Much of her criminal justice education was earned taking night classes while working full-time, with her two kids at home with her husband. She credits Sierra College counselor Cindy Flores for encouraging her, supporting her, and helping her reach the finish line.</p>
<p>“Even when life happened — two kids and marriage — she was always there,” said Ramirez.</p>
<p>All three students, former and current, have no intention of ending an educational journey that has already taken them so far. Zarate is exploring opportunities to earn his master’s degree. Ramirez plans to enter the police academy and become a bilingual and bicultural law enforcement officer in her hometown of Kings Beach. Yanez said one of the things that has driven him in his pursuit of higher education is something his dad told him many years ago.</p>
<p>“My dad said that the only thing that a person cannot take away from you is your education, and I have carried that for a while,” Yanez said.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 05:06:41 +0000lshearer55267 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comTackling Housing Crisis via Propositions, Who’s Filed for Local Seatshttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/tackling-housing-crisis-propositions-who%E2%80%99s-filed-local-seats
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="ds-1col node node-profile node-teaser view-mode-teaser clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-contributor-profile field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/who-we-are/sage-sauerbrey">Sage Sauerbrey</a>, Moonshine Ink Staff</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_b_election_0.jpg" title="EMPTY SEATS: At the time of this writing, only two candidates have filed for the three open seats on the Truckee Town Council: incumbent Morgan Goodwin and newcomer Carmen Carr. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55268]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_b_election_0.jpg?itok=bHC8OA1J" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="EMPTY SEATS: At the time of this writing, only two candidates have filed for the three open seats on the Truckee Town Council: incumbent Morgan Goodwin and newcomer Carmen Carr. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>EMPTY SEATS: At the time of this writing, only two candidates have filed for the three open seats on the Truckee Town Council: incumbent Morgan Goodwin and newcomer Carmen Carr. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-column field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/columns/election-2018" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Election 2018</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>This November will bring 12 propositions to the ballot box that could have profound impacts on our region — think housing.</p>
<p>One proposition in particular is especially important to the Truckee/North Tahoe region, which is currently faced with a dearth of affordable housing options (see p. 14). Proposition 1 includes a deal for a $4 billion bond, the terms of which were agreed upon at the end of July, that would fund low-income housing developments and would subsidize home loans for California veterans. The bond would finance existing housing programs and infrastructure work and provide grants to match local housing trust funds, dollar to dollar.</p>
<p>Some uses of the bond include $1.5 billion to the State of California’s Multifamily Housing Program, funding affordable housing projects for those at 60 percent or lower of the area median income. It also allots $150 million for projects near transit stations, $150 million for loan assistance, and $300 million for a matching grant program.<br />
A second housing bond is also geared to assist the homeless and mentally ill, and would provide $2 billion drawn from the state’s 1 percent millionaires’ income tax surcharge established in 2004.</p>
<p>Another measure is set to tackle the growing unaffordability of California rent prices. The 2016 Regional Housing Study found that 76 percent of residents in the Truckee/North Lake Tahoe area overpay for housing, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Proposition 10 could make it easier for local governments to establish rent controls. Currently, a state law restricts a local government’s ability to enact rent control within their jurisdictions, but this November ballot measure aims to repeal that law.</p>
<p>Two of the measures are on the more unique side: a proposition to allow the elderly to retain their property taxes from one home to another after moving, and a proposition to abolish daylight savings — but only if Congress gives permission. The ballot originally had a measure to split California into three states, but this was nixed by the California Supreme Court on July 18 citing “significant questions regarding the proposition’s validity.”</p>
<p>The June 5 primary elections saw the passage of four out of the five statewide ballot measures, including a proposition that will bring $142 million in funding to Sierra Nevada parks, water infrastructure, and environmental protection.</p>
<h2>Local Filings</h2>
<p><strong>Town Council</strong></p>
<p>The deadline to file candidacy for local office closes on Aug. 10 for all those wishing to make a run for a seat on the Truckee Town Council or any of the local special district boards.</p>
<p>In spite of the looming deadline, as of this writing only two candidates have qualified to run for Truckee Town Council seats, although three seats will open up this year. The terms of Morgan Goodwin, Carolyn Dee Wallace, and Patrick Flora are currently available, and so far Goodwin is the only incumbent to file for reelection. Additionally, Carmen Carr, a local realtor with Engel &amp; Völkers, has filed to run as well. If Wallace or Flora fail to file by the Aug. 10 deadline, it will be extended to Aug. 15. Council members David Tirman and Jessica Abrams terms run until 2020.</p>
<h2>Special District Elections</h2>
<p>Special district elections share the same deadlines as town council. Here are the candidates who have filed to run as of this writing.</p>
<p><strong>Tahoe Truckee Unified School District</strong></p>
<p>Three seats open — <em>Governing board member</em></p>
<p>Kim Szczurek — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Truckee Tahoe Airport District</strong></p>
<p>Two seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>John Jones — Incumbent</p>
<p>Jim Morrison — Incumbent</p>
<p>Joseph Lorenz</p>
<p><strong>Northstar Community Services District</strong></p>
<p>Three seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Nancy P. Ives — Incumbent</p>
<p>Dee Cravens</p>
<p>Cathy Stewart — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Truckee Fire Protection District</strong></p>
<p>Three seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Victor R. Hernandez — Incumbent</p>
<p>Paul Wilford — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Donner Summit Public Utility District</strong></p>
<p>Two seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Phil Gamick — Incumbent</p>
<p>Alexander Medveczky — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Truckee Donner Public Utility District</strong></p>
<p>Two seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Paul Warmerdam — Incumbent</p>
<p>Tony Laliotis — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Truckee Sanitary District</strong></p>
<p>Three seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Ron Sweet — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Tahoe Forest Hospital District</strong></p>
<p>Three seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Mary G. Brown</p>
<p>Dale Chamblin — Incumbent</p>
<p>Charles Zipkin — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>North Tahoe Public Utility District</strong></p>
<p>Two seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Lane Lewis — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Tahoe City Public Utility District</strong></p>
<p>Two seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Daniel Wilkins — Incumbent</p>
<p>John Pang — Incumbent</p>
<p><strong>Squaw Valley Public Service District</strong></p>
<p>Two seats open — <em>Director</em></p>
<p>Dale Cox — Incumbent</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 05:13:22 +0000lshearer55268 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comInnovative Solutions to Complex Housing Problemshttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/innovative-solutions-complex-housing-problems
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="ds-1col node node-profile node-teaser view-mode-teaser clearfix ">
<div class="field field-name-contributor-profile field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/who-we-are/amie-quirarte">Amie Quirarte</a>, Moonshine Ink</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_homefront_propertypoints_18082_0.jpg" title="SOLUTIONS SLAM: Amie Quirarte and other concerned local residents spoke at the Mountain Housing Council’s community update on the housing crisis on April 28. Moonshine’s Sage Sauerbrey also presented an “across the west” Pecha Kucha (20 slides, 20 seconds each) looking at housing issues in similar mountain towns. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55274]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_homefront_propertypoints_18082_0.jpg?itok=81AjDuoV" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="SOLUTIONS SLAM: Amie Quirarte and other concerned local residents spoke at the Mountain Housing Council’s community update on the housing crisis on April 28. Moonshine’s Sage Sauerbrey also presented an “across the west” Pecha Kucha (20 slides, 20 seconds each) looking at housing issues in similar mountain towns. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>SOLUTIONS SLAM: Amie Quirarte and other concerned local residents spoke at the Mountain Housing Council’s community update on the housing crisis on April 28. Moonshine’s Sage Sauerbrey also presented an “across the west” Pecha Kucha (20 slides, 20 seconds each) looking at housing issues in similar mountain towns. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-column field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/columns/property-points" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Property Points</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-op-related-nref field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Related Stories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/mountain-life/feng-shui-your-life">Feng Shui Your Life</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news/four-basin-homes-help-housing-deficits">Four Basin Homes To Help Housing Deficits</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news/real-estate-snapshot-july-2018">Real Estate Snapshot | July 2018</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>A tired narrative, and one that all of us in the Truckee/Tahoe region are familiar with: another local family has been displaced and is in desperate need of housing. At this point, it seems as though many of us have simply accepted this kind of situation as our new normal, and see this as an inevitable reality of calling this vacation land home.</p>
<p>We’ve watched businesses limit (and even shut down) their hours due to lack of staffing; we’ve run into contributing members of this community sleeping in their cars; and we’ve seen the endless slew of desperate pleas on Facebook.</p>
<p>So what can we do? And who is going to fix this?</p>
<p>The Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee was formed to accelerate solutions to the growing problem our region is currently facing. According to the organization’s website, “The Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee is committed to seeking solutions for this crisis – to find solutions, to connect agencies, businesses and individuals that can get things done, and to make Tahoe/Truckee a place where a healthy, diverse, and thriving community can afford to live.”</p>
<p>And if you’re wondering how bad the problem really is, the numbers below are sure to add some shock factor (quoted from the Mountain Housing Council website):</p>
<p>“Truckee alone has a population of roughly 16,000. The Truckee/North Lake Tahoe Region is closer to 30,000 people combined. On big weekends, those numbers swell to around 100,000.</p>
<p>For those people, there are 33,300 housing units – mostly single family homes built before 1979 – and 65 percent of them are vacant more than half the year.</p>
<p>Of those who are living here full time, 67 percent are paying more than 30 percent of their income (considered overpaying), while 26 percent are paying more than half their income for housing. Within the 474 below-market rate units in the area, zero are available, with waits of six months to two years.” (<a href="https://mountainhousingcouncil.org/about/">https://mountainhousingcouncil.org/about/</a>)</p>
<p>On April 28, the council hosted its first annual housing update to report on the progress they had made over the past year and ask the community for their input.</p>
<p>In what became known as the solution slam, members of the community were invited to come on stage and give their best pitches. The ideas were innovative, brilliant, and intriguing. They ranged from tiny housing communities, converting campgrounds into living space, and much more.<br />
My idea, which is now titled the ADU Pathway Program, was to minimize the costs of converting an already existing accessory dwelling unit (ADU) into a legal, rentable unit and create incentives for owners to participate in such a program.</p>
<p>According to the City of Santa Cruz, “An ADU, also known as a mother-in-law or granny unit, is an additional living unit that has separate kitchen, sleeping, and bathroom facilities, attached or detached from the primary residential unit on a single-family lot. ADUs provide housing opportunities through the use of surplus space either in or adjacent to a single-family dwelling. In most cases they are either a garage conversion or a small backyard cottage or guest-house style structure.”</p>
<p>The theory behind the ADU Pathway Program is threefold:</p>
<p>1) Provide an incentive for owners to make their ADUs legal (with the governing entity) by creating a flat permit fee. Many owners already have tenants renting an ADU illegally, and we see a flat permit fee as a win/win to both the owner and the governing entity.</p>
<p>2) Owners participating in the flat fee permit process must rent to a full-time tenant. The governing entity would put a deed restriction on the property stating it could only be used for long-term housing, as opposed to short-term rentals. This creates a true solution to the problem we’re facing.</p>
<p>3) Because many properties in this area already have an illegal ADU in place, the cost to put this program into effect is minimal. We are utilizing the structures already in place, and creating incentives for all parties to participate.</p>
<p>After receiving community input and voting as a group, my idea was selected to receive support from the Mountain Housing Council.</p>
<p>Our main objective is to create an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guideline for property owners who are seeking to legalize their already existing ADU or for owners who want to build a new one.</p>
<p>I’m currently in the process of assembling a team of cohorts, each with a background that offers a unique and dynamic perspective from the rest, who will tackle this head on in the fall.</p>
<p>As we’ve said numerous times, there is no right or one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. It will take creativity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to seeing change. I’m confident that we, as a community, can create the change we wish to see, one step at a time.<br />
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<p><em>If you are interested in becoming involved, please email <a href="mailto:amie@tluxp.com">amie@tluxp.com</a>.</em></p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 01:03:54 +0000mayumi55274 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.comTruckee River Tampering; Concert Possibilities at Sand Harborhttp://moonshineink.webfactional.com/news/truckee-river-tampering-concert-possibilities-sand-harbor
<div class="field field-name-field-pub-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-09T00:00:00-07:00">Thursday, August 9, 2018</span></div></div></div>
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<a href="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/news_youasked_weir2_web.jpg" title="WEIRD WEIRS: Contrary to popular belief, David Lass says the the San Francisco Fly Casters have not moved rocks around to impeded boating, according to Trout Unlimited’s David Lass, and the project has actually achieved the opposite effect and made it easier to float the stretch. Associate editor Sage Sauerbrey investigated this and found it to be true. Photo by Amory Harris" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-[field_image_gallery-55281]"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://moonshineink.webfactional.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery/public/news_youasked_weir2_web.jpg?itok=E-UJ7INY" width="680" height="450" alt="" title="WEIRD WEIRS: Contrary to popular belief, David Lass says the the San Francisco Fly Casters have not moved rocks around to impeded boating, according to Trout Unlimited’s David Lass, and the project has actually achieved the opposite effect and made it easier to float the stretch. Associate editor Sage Sauerbrey investigated this and found it to be true. Photo by Amory Harris" /></a> <div class="panel-overlay">
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<h3>WEIRD WEIRS: Contrary to popular belief, David Lass says the the San Francisco Fly Casters have not moved rocks around to impeded boating, according to Trout Unlimited’s David Lass, and the project has actually achieved the opposite effect and made it easier to float the stretch. Associate editor Sage Sauerbrey investigated this and found it to be true. Photo by Amory Harris</h3> </div>
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<h3>Illustration by Mike English/Moonshine Ink</h3> </div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-column field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/columns/you-asked-they-answered" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">You Asked. They Answered.</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>I’ve noticed the San Francisco Fly Casters Club has been moving rocks around to create multiple ledge drops on their private stretch of the Truckee River, and making it very difficult to float that stretch. Why are they doing this and is it legal? </strong></p>
<p>That stretch is the site of a Trout Unlimited (TU) project completed in two phases during October of 2016 and 2017. TU approached the San Francisco Fly Casting Club in 2015 and requested permission and funding to undertake a pilot project to enhance trout habitat inside their property boundaries on the Truckee River. This partnership and project concept was in response to the historic California drought, the Truckee River total maximum daily load, and extremely poor habitat conditions for trout. Fish habitat features were constructed to 1) enhance fish habitat, 2) reduce streambank erosion, 3) facilitate sediment transport, 4) improve dissolved oxygen, 5) reduce water temperature, 6) improve recreational boating, 7) maintain river stability, 8) improve aquatic insect habitat, 9) withstand large floods, 10) maintain channel capacity, 11) be compatible with natural channel design, and 12) be visually acceptable to the public. The project was permitted by regulatory agencies, and the designs conform to designs commonly used on river restoration projects in California and other states. No material was excavated from the channel during the project. Instead, existing rocks were reorganized to meet the multiple objectives stated above.</p>
<p>In response to the issue of recreational boating, TU completed pre- and post-project evaluation of floating access in anticipation that this would be an important public issue. Historic, average base flow through the project area is 216 cubic feet per second (cfs) during early October according to Balance Hydrologics. TU found that recreational floating in a standard 14-foot raft cannot be negotiated through this section of the Truckee River at base flow without getting consistently stuck on existing rocks and riffle crests. We evaluated a minimum pre-project floating flow between 300 to 350 cfs by testing the float in a 14-foot raft with only minor hang-ups. We found that post-project floating results improved at this flow rate, because the new fish habitat structures consolidated historically shallow, flat areas of the river into velocity tongues that are easier to float over.</p>
<p>The fish and aquatic insects are thriving in response to the project, and it was TU’s hope that this project would be a catalyst for other river improvements and revitalization work on public lands in coming years. That has proven to be the case. TU is sponsoring a similar project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2018 on the Truckee River State Wildlife Area, located 2 miles downstream of the project completed on the club property.</p>
<p><em>~ David Lass, California field director, Trout Unlimited </em></p>
<p><strong>Have any music events been held, or are there any being planned, for the Sand Harbor amphitheater on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore? I love and support Shakespeare, but would that not be one of the coolest music venues in California, or is there a firm reason this won’t happen?</strong></p>
<p>There are concerts that take place at the Shakespeare stage, located at Sand Harbor. Every Monday is the showcase theater and many of them are concerts. Reno Philharmonic recently performed an Elton John tribute on the stage. There are also the Trails and Vistas One World Concerts that take place at the end of the season.</p>
<p><em>~ Rae W. Matthews, community engagement manager, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival</em></p>
<p>The stage is owned and operated by the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. If someone wanted to do a concert, it would be up to the festival to approve or deny any requests.</p>
<p>Just a side note: The Shakespeare stage is located within the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, so it would not be one of the “coolest music venues in California” as your reader mentioned, but we do agree … it is one of the coolest stages in Nevada.</p>
<p><em>~ Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park Staff</em></p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:06:54 +0000mayumi55281 at http://moonshineink.webfactional.com